By-pass mechanism for folding machines



June 6, 1950 c. s. MALOTT, JR 2,510,185

BY-PASS MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES Filed June 1'7, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CLIFTON s. MALOTT JR.

ATTORNEYS June 6, '1950 c. s. MALOTT, JR 2,510,185

BY-PASS MECHANISM FOR FOLDING MACHINES Filed June 17, 1946 2 Sheets$heet2 LA 26 L4 2o FIG-5 HG-6 INVENTOR CLlF'TON S. MALOTT JR.

BY 4WWum- ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STAT 'BY- PASSlHECHANISMFOR FOLDING MAC Clifton S. Malott, Jr., Cincinnati, ()hioassignol' to, The American Laundry Machinery Company,

Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 17,1946,-Scria1;No. 677,368

This invention relates to f lding machines. mch as are used for folding-flatarticles made of textile fabrics, for example, sheets, pillowcases. towels, table cloths and the like. The machine is of that type inwhich an article to be folded is fed by endless traveling tapes to avibratory blade upon which it is laid or draped and by which it isadvanced to the bite between folding rollers.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding thearticle either to the folding devices or around them, at will, to eitherfold it or not, as desired.

A further object is to provide improved by-pass means of simple form andcapable of actuation at will by the receiving operator to whom the workis discharged.

Still another object is to by-pass the chosen article not only aroundthe folding devices but also around certain of the endless feedingtapes.

Another object is to provide improved means for guiding the articleduring its movement around one of the tape carrying rollers in suchmanner as to prevent it from being stretched or lifted ofi from thetapes.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of theinvention, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a folded article;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation, corresponding to Fig. l, but ona larger scale, showing the'by-pass device in inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing certain of the parts in operativeposition;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation on the line 6-6, Fig. 3.

The folding machine of the present invention may be used, either alonewith the work fed thereto by hand, or in conjunction with an ironingmachine which delivers directly to the folding machine, a typical ironerfor the purpose being conventionally indicated in dot-dash lines at A,Fig. 1.

The folding machine includes a suitable frame l0 in which are mountedrolls II, l2, l3, l4, l5, l6 and I1 over which travel several sets,three being shown, of endless tapes or belts l8, i9, 20. Ironed work tobe folded is discharged from the ironing machine upon tapes [8, whichcarry it up and over roller H and deliver it to tapes [9, which carry itaround roller Hi to tapes 29, the latter discharging it over roller 13,.The discharged work descends behindv a blade 2|, upon which itis drapedbyrearward motion of said blade, and the blade then advances the workinto the bitebetween folding rollers 22, 23 to an apron 24 down which itslides to a table 25. All these parts, and others requiring nodescription, operate in the manner more fully described in my copendingapplications, Serial Numbers 677,366 and now Patent No. 2,464,823granted March 22, 1949 for Folding machine and 677,367 for Adjustableapron for folding machines, filed of even date herewith, to whichreference may be had if necessary or desirable.

The by-pass device of the present invention includes two sets of curvedfingers 26, 21 mounted respectively upon rods 28, 29, said rods havingarms 30, 3| connected by links 32, 33 to the arms of a two armed lever34 having an operating handle 35 extending outwardly from the front ofthe machine above table 25, where it is accessible to an operatorworking at said table. By means of said handle either set of fingers 26or 2'! may be swung into operative position,

Fig. 3 shows the parts in normal position. Handle 35 is depressed;fingers 21 are raised out of the way; and fingers 26 are lowered closeto and extend part way around roll II. These fingers 26 are wide bandsand lie over the several tapes and guide th work to travel with thetapes down around roll H for delivery to tapes I9.

When operating handle 35 is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 4,the fingers 26 are raised out of the way, while fingers 21 are loweredinto operating position. These fingers 21 are strong, stiff curvedwires, the free ends of which fit into the spaces between the tapes orribbons behind roll II, thereby intersecting or crossing the path oftravel of the work. Another fixed set of wire fingers 36 cooperates withfingers 21 to form a bridge, over which the work now travels to aninclined apron 31 and down it to delivery table 25.

Consequently, by adjusting handle 35 to either of its two positionsshown the work may be caused to flow either to the folding devices andthrough them to the delivery table, or around the folding devices,without folding, directly to the delivery table.

Stationary fingers 36 also perform another function. They always raisethe article slightly above the tapes when passing around roll II tocontinue to the ,folding devices. This is necessary, because ribbons l8travel somewhat faster than those of the ironer, the work piece slippingon ribbons I8 as it ascends with them. Fingers roller supporting thedischarge end of said apron and over and around which the aprondischarges the work for movement along a path, and means operatable atwill by the operator for directing work discharged by said apron eitherto and along said path or to one side of said path, said means,

including two sets of fingers movable selectively and alternatively intooperating position with respect to said roll, one set into a positionparalleling said path and the other into a position intersecting it.

2. In a machine of the character described, work feeding mechanism,comprising an endless apron adapted to receive and advance the work, aroller supporting the discharge end of said apron and over and aroundwhich the apron discharges the work for movement along a path, meansoperatable at will by the operator for directing work discharged by saidapron either to and along said path or to one side of said path, saidmeans including two sets of fingers movable selectively andalternatively into operating position with respect to said roll, one setinto a position paralleling said path and the other into a positionintersecting it, and a single operating device for actuating both setsof .fingers.

CLIFTON S. MALOTT, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name c Date 1,766,791 Mayer June 24, 19302,275,964 Johnson Mar. 10, 1942 2,294,649 Baker Sept. 1, 1942 2,315,003Martin et a1 Mar. 30, 1943

